Is There a Difference Between Optimism and Solutionism?

Jason is the founder of The Roots of Progress, where he writes and speaks about the history of technology and the philosophy of progress. Previously, he spent 18 years as a software engineer, engineering manager, and startup founder.

We talk about the need to study progress, tackle the question of whether progress makes humans any happier, optimism and solutionism, and some more.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:38 - Why we need a new philosophy of progress

3:54 - “Almost nothing about progress is linear…”

9:56 - Why bother making any progress in the first place?

16:18 - Understanding and “obeying” laws of nature

18:01 - Does progress make us happy? Are we on an intergenerational hedonic treadmill?

27:52 - Optimism and solutionism

35:15 - What’s your message for people living a thousand years from now?

JASON’S LINKS:

The Roots of Progress: https://rootsofprogress.org

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jasoncrawford

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